Independent Films

[B|uejay]

Since 1985, the Sundance Film Festival (formal title since 1991) has become the preeminent showcase for American Independent films in the world. And with the inclusion of American Spectrum, spotlighting 20 first time or initial works by American directors, and Frontiers, featuring cutting-edge filmmakers, the Festival has expanded their dedication to the independent filmmaking community. Notable films discovered at the Sundance Festival include sex, lies, and videotape, Blood Simple, American Dream, El Mariachi, Silverlake Life: The View from Here, The Waterdance, Ruby in Paradise, Spanking the Monkey, Hoop Dreams, Crumb, The Brothers McMullen, Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern, Welcome to the Dollhouse, and I Shot Andy Warhol.

anyone into these films?

[PauTOT]

I cannot presume that I am an authority on indie films, but I have bought a copy of Welcome To The Dollhouse and it is one of my favorite movies of all time, Heather Matarazzo and Brendan Sexton III are two of the most talented young actors today.....i've seen some of edward burn's movies like The Brothers McMullen and She's The One he's ok I guess, but nothing special....I also have a copy of Pi, a very exciting and interesting indie film about how everything in life can be illustrated through mathematic equations.....I'm also a follower of Kevin Smith but I don't think he qualifies as being an independent filmmaker anymore....Clerks was really good though.....


[This message has been edited by PauTOT (edited 08-15-2000).]

[sardonic wench]

i'm into indies as well and most foreign films. but since there is a scarcity of them here in manila and im just too lazy to look for them, i dont really bother.

from the movies you've mentioned, the only thing ive seen is el mariachi (yup the first part of an antonio banderas flick)

kevin smith? i totally adore him.

im not a hard core movie buff but by not being so, i bring shame to my college degree. hehehe.

[Noel Vera]

I'm of two minds about American independents. On one hand, they're a welcome alternative to Hollywood; on the other, they killed off the foreign film market, by supplying American audiences with what they want--arty movies with a little nudity--all without subtitles, which Americans have to actually read.

Also, many of them aren't that much different from European fare--slow, and not a little pretentious. Blood Simple isn't really typical of Sundance; the festival prefers more subdued films like James Mangold's Heavy, or the talky sex lies and videotape.

Funny about American independents: in avoiding being like Hollywood, they end up being like Europe. They deny themselves the best things in American movies, the ingenuity of plot, the brash energy in storytelling, the oddball visuals. There was a point Hong Kong action movies actually seem more American--or at least display the best virtues of being American--than American films themselves.

I think the best films are coming out of Iran, the Three Chinas, Japan, maybe Eastern Europe. The American Independents have enjoyed a renaissance in 1999 with a series of excellent films: Boys Don't Cry, Being John Malkovich, The STraight Story to name a few.

Otherwise, Hollywood is all played out, France is tired and boring, Germany and Italy haven't come out with great films for a long time.

That said, Crumb is a great film.

[bubu]

why don't u support indie flip films.
watch the the twelve by jesus cave. may bar tour ata yun eh.

[anKh]

yea, Spanking the Monkey was good. and so were Clerks, Welcome to the Dollhouse, El Mariachi, etcetera.

you might also wanna chk out:
Blood and Donuts.
Kissed.
Leolo.
Kids.
that film where Polly Jean Harvey plays some sort of a millennial Mary Magdalene. <;damn, forgot the title.>;
Butterfly Kiss.
Cronos.

...that's all i can remember for now.

[Margarita]

Where can I get copies of these films???

Does anybody know where I can get a copy of Guineverre, it stars Sarah Polley???

[B|uejay]

we have this independent film class in ateneo where we get to watch indie films every saturday. sit-ins are welcome
some of the films we've watched:
three seasons
sex, lies and videotape
run lola, run
all about my motherw

[tricc]

Originally posted by B|uejay:
we have this independent film class in ateneo where we get to watch indie films every saturday. sit-ins are welcome

Where's this class? What time?

[PauTOT]

I saw Run Lola Run din at last year's european film fest over at shangri-la....it was one of the better movies there...although I did thought that some of the movies there were no better than our local movies....nevertheless, people still cheered after every screening.....sheesh

by the way Pi is showing over at Glorietta now.....as I've said in my previous post....it's a good movie....although it is not for everyone...

[juve_grrrl10]

Ako rin, pwedeng maki-sit-in?

Lately I saw Run Lola Run...and get this, I saw it over the Japanese channel kaya japanese ang subtitle! I didn't understand anything kasi siempre german ang film. Buti na lang madaling intindihin. It was a really good movie. How come we can't make movies like that and show it "commerically"?

[B|uejay]

we watch indie films every saturday in ateneo. it's one of my electives and the teacher encourages sit-ins. just pretend u know someone, or in this case... me!
then ur in. 9-12 sat, com dept.

[PauTOT]

B|uejay favor naman oh, can you tell us what's showing everyweek? para naman informed kami, thanks!

[B|uejay]

PauTOT
sometimes it comes as a surprise. i dunno what's showing this week. i'll probably find out thursday...

[PauTOT]

B|uejay sige, basta keep us updated if possible, thanks!

[bubu]

bluejay.
pwede mo tanong sa teacher mo kung san nakukuha yung mga tape na yan?

and ***'s ur course by the way?

[Anali]

Does anyone know if there's a video rental shop that carries indie & art films? Noel Vera suggested Video Takeout which still has laser discs, but unfortunately I don't have a laserdisc player (it's a dead format). I think UP Diliman has regular film showings every now and then too.

Or if you wish, perhaps someone here can set up a PEX indie film club where we can hold regular screenings at someone's house, preferably someone with a great surround-sound home theater!

I don't have a home theater system, but I can provide some movies, although I've only got a few indie/art movies on my shelf: Sex Lies & Videotape, Being John Malkovich, Dogma, Crash, Priest, Blair Witch Project, Last Temptation of Christ, Lock Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels (does this count?). Most are foreign films: Run Lola Run, All About my Mother, Breaking the Waves, Central Station, Cinema Paradiso, Il Postino, In the Realm of the Senses, Dreamlife of Angels, Decalogue, Farewell my Concubine, Tango, Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Amarcord, Nights of Cabiria, And the Ship Sails On, Alphaville, Passion of Joan of Arc, Other Side of Sunday, My Life as a Dog, Wild Reeds, My Favorite Season, Indochine, Ran, Tampopo, Seventh Seal, Those who Love me can Take the Train, Fire, King of Masks, Black Orpheus, Bicycle Thief, Insomnia, Emperor & Assassin, City of Lost Children, Like Water for Chocolate, Taste of Cherry, Vagabond, Sunday in the Country, Romance, Il Mostro, My Son the Fanatic, Fitzcarraldo, The Mirror, and more to come. Sorry this list isn't too organized!

[This message has been edited by Anali (edited 08-15-2000).]

[PauTOT]

Originally posted by Anali:
Does anyone know if there's a video rental shop that carries indie & art films? Noel Vera suggested Video Takeout which still has laser discs, but unfortunately I don't have a laserdisc player (it's a dead format). I think UP Diliman has regular film showings every now and then too.

Where is Video Takeout? buhay pa naman yung laserdisc player ko, so baka mapakinabangan ko pa yung tittles doon.

[bugsbunny]

im part of that indie film class in ateneo. bluejay sino ka?

anyway, so far, ang sobrang ok na nakita kong indie film was run lola run, three seasons (da bomb!), welcome to the dollhouse and lots pa....

pautot, we watched pi sa indie class namin at ang masasabi ko lang talaga is sumakit ang ulo ko dun!

[Noel Vera]

Vidoe TAkeout is still alive in Makati Cinema Square, ground level.

Good Filipino films are so rare nowadays they should qualify as indi films. Mario O'Hara's recent Pangarap ng Puso being one example.